My spouse also has awards. Does that help my EB-1 petition?

For the EB-1, the short answer is that your spouse’s awards do not count directly toward your petition. This category is based on individual merit: each applicant must demonstrate, through their own evidence, outstanding recognition in their field.

This means that your spouse’s achievements, however impressive, are generally not credited toward meeting the criteria required of you. The evaluation always focuses on the profile of the person petitioning.

That said, this information may play a secondary and contextual role in some situations:

• when the spouse’s awards are tied to the same field and help illustrate an environment of excellence;
• when they indirectly reinforce the narrative of your professional trajectory.

Even in these cases, use this type of evidence with caution: what supports the petition are your own achievements. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth verifying the updated requirements with USCIS and planning your documentation with a specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.